There was once a beautiful and magic kingdom called Gold Crown. It was filled with many beautiful forests, high sculpted mountains, winding silvery rivers, and dense forests.
The people were very cultured there and adored one thing above all: dancing. There were many festivals in which the people would preform their best dances and ballets before the rulers.
The one who wrote the best ballets was a man named Yoshimura. No one quite knew why, but many of the tales he wrote had such a ring of truth to them that they resonated with the people. He was lauded for his work.
The kingdom was ruled in alliance by the good King Robert in the North and the wise Queen Katherine in the South. Sadly, it had never been bound by blood, and the alliance had been made by King Carter (Katy's deceased husband) and King Robert long ago.
But that was all about to change.
Robert and Katy had cooked up quite a scheme—to wed their unwilling children! It was so perfect, they would bring them together every summer in hopes they would fall in love!
In Katy's castle, Katy and Ken awaited Robert and Christíana's arrival.
"Hehehe, oh, here they come, hee!" Lupin said, smiling.
"Dear Katy, as lovely as ever." Robert said to her.
"And who might this strapping young man be? Young Prince Ken, no doubt." Robert said.
"Welcome to our fair kingdom, dear Robert. And to you, young princess. Go on, Ken." Katy chuckled. "Dear, go on…"
"Mother!" Ken said.
"Ken!" Katy said.
"Hello, Princess Christíana. I'm very pleased to meet you." Ken choked out.
Ken was eleven years old. He had shaggy dark hair, bright grey eyes, and pale skin. He bowed to the princess, but was not happy to meet her at all. He could be reading in the new royal library, learning to swordfight or firing his bow, not inside with this, this—
"Pleased to meet you, Prince Ken." Christíana rolled her eyes as she curtsied.
Her tiny hands were balled into fists. Christíana had long wavy blonde locks. She had bright blue eyes and marble white skin. Her mother had been very beautiful before her untimely death.
Their parents, his father, her mother, had died the same way. The evil sorcerer Yoshimura had destroyed them. Christíana's mother had died the day she was born.
For a moment Ken gazed into her eyes, seeing the loneliness mirrored there. For a moment...then...
"Yuck!" Ken said. "I'm going to swordfight with Hide!"
"Ken!" Katy shouted moving to go after him.
"No." Christíana said imperiously. "I think its time I teach Prince Ken a lesson."
She drew the blade Excalibur hidden at her waist and strode outside.
"One match. If you win, I will leave and never return. If I win, you have to teach me how to fight like a man." Christíana said.
"No problem. You'll lose, princess." Ken said.
"Alright you two. Go!" Hide said.
Christíana struck faster than a cobra, and Ken's sword flew through the air, striking the center of the target behind him.
"I'm also fairly good with a bow. Don't ever underestimate a woman, prince."
"Well she's certainly...something." Robert laughed. "Quite a match, wouldn't you agree, Katy, dear."
"Yes well, my son had it coming." Katy said. "He should have known. I hope Christíana comes around. She would be good for him."
"And for our plan," Robert said. "A marital alliance."
A few years later, in Robert castle, Robert was trying to get Christíana ready.
"Good heavens, child, don't dawdle," Robert said. "We can't keep Ken waiting."
Christíana sheathed her sword and put her bow over her shoulder. "This year I'm going to learn martial arts. Ken has an excellent tutor, and he's great at teaching me. This arrangement is perfect."
In Katy's castle, in Ken's Room Katy was urging Ken to get ready.
"She soon will be arriving" Katy said. "Is that respect you're showing?"
"If she knocks me out one more time..." Ken said. "I'm throwing her out the tower window."
On the docks, Katy came to receive Robert and Christíana.
"One day Prince Ken will be her intended" Robert said.
"Splendid" Katy said.
The children were playing at Katy's castle.
"Ha!" Christíana swung and decked him. "Got you again."
Ken stood and glared at her.
"No matter how many times and you still show me no respect, all because I'm a woman!" Christíana swung her foot and knocked him to the floor. "Do I have to get you on the floor!"
"You haven't, for one instant this whole time, done anything but look down on me! Why should I respect someone like that! Your just a snob!" Ken retorted.
Christíana ran out in tears.
In Katy's Castle, the teens were playing.
"Christíana hasn't bothered us in a while." Hide said. "Not really at all this summer."
"Yes, she's been training alone all this time. In the kitchens a lot too. I'm afraid her dad got through to her about the big wedding." Ken said.
A maid knocked on the door.
"Yes what is it?" Ken asked.
"A gift for you." The maid said.
"Who from?" Ken asked.
"Probably one of your many admirers." Hide laughed.
The maid presented him with a sword.
"This is..." Ken lifted it. "It's Clarent! The twin sword to Excalibur! But that would mean..."
Ken ran out into the docks where Christíana was boarding the ship, Excalibur shining at her waist.
He lifted a hand and waved to her. "Thank you! Next year I'll teach you to hunt!"
Christíana paused and came out to meet him. "You really like it? You aren't still angry?"
"Angry? I'm..." Ken paused. She had really taken the snob comment seriously. He grinned at her. "You were right. You always were. We both lost our family to the Owl. We should destroy him together. And with the twin blades, it will be easy!"
Christíana and Ken were meeting for the summer now as adults.
Christíana headed for the courtyard, dressed as a warrior despite what her father wanted. Her sword was at her waist, her bow at her back, and her ebony hair braided down to her waist. Those sparkling blue eyes had a flicker of mischief as she drew her sword.
"I want to see how good my teacher has become, prince."
Ken, for his part, was now taller than her, with broad muscled shoulders from years of training to be a warrior. He was faster now, faster than her, and he knew it. His green eyes flickered to her, taking in her beauty for a moment before he drew his blade.
"I want to beat you at last, princess."
For hours they struck and parried at each other. She was fast and strong, but he had become faster and stronger. And he could tell her swordplay was partly for show. She was trying to impress him! Well, it was distracting her! She spun her sword to look fancy and he struck! The sword went flying through the air, and struck the target behind him.
"I'm also fairly good with a bow. Don't ever underestimate a man who fights for his bride, my love."
For a moment the words echoed through the courtyard. He had done it. He had said it.
What would be her answer?
"I suppose I never really knew...it was you I was dreaming of, my love." Christíana returned his words to him
The two sheathed their swords and turned to their parents.
"For the record." Their hands were joined. "This was our idea."